If that were me:
1) laugh at guy. 3 hours? Is he joking? Ask him if you can stand there and watch for the three hours. And I'm sure the fan is actually a $10 part.
2) I'd just try to take it apart. Really, you're just pulling the casing apart, it's not like if you feel like you're getting in over your head you can't just put it back together.
http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/processo...f-oil-2135514/